Officers Knocking On Home Doors To Warn Potential Easy Crime Targets

[The Straight Story]

Officers Knocking On Home Doors To Warn Potential Easy Crime Targets
Several Homes Found With Garage Doors Open

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. -- Police officers are knocking on doors of Central Florida homes and warning families who appear to be easy targets for criminals.

Officers recently began driving through some Seminole County neighborhoods with increased crime rates and notifying homeowners that their homes are vulnerable.

Winter Springs police Lt. Ken Frein and other officers warned several homeowners late Thursday that their garage doors were open.

"We are just going around the neighborhood and letting people know when they're garage doors are open," Winter Springs police Lt. Ken Frein said. "In most cases, it is people who came home late or their kids came in and out and the garage door is open and after a while the security light shuts off."

Garage-door crimes appear to be a new crime trend in the area.

"With young kids and everything that is going on and dogs in the house, it is real easy to forget (garage doors)," homeowner Carolyn Wertz said. "It's a scary thought. So, having an officer come around and letting you know that your garage door (is up), I appreciate that."

http://www.local6.com/news/17563289/detail.html

They should be warning them about republicans.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Nobody should ever invite a cop into their house or anywhere else without a warrant.

[NJmaverick]

2. Unless you have a meth lab or a pot farm, why the fuck not?

they are trying to HELP these people out, give them a break

[BlooInBloo]

3. BWAHAHAAH!!!!

[NJmaverick]

5. There are only two things that bring me shame for being a liberal

one were the liberal assholes that mistreated troops that were returning from Vietnam and the other are cop hating bigots.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Can't. Stop. Laughing. At. You.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[NJmaverick]

10. Looks more like you are having a siezure

did you get hit on the head once to often?

[Cetacea]

8. You've never heard of cop impersonation?

Any asshole can dress up as a cop and commit a crime.

[NJmaverick]

12. That is a rare problem, much rarer since 9/11

however the patrol car is much more difficult to fake.

[AllieB]

11. "one were the liberal assholes that mistreated troops that were returning from Vietnam"

Nice right-wing meme you're spreading.

[BlooInBloo]

14. Hence I couldn't stop laughing.

[AllieB]

23. Understandably.

:eyes:

"The truth doesn't have an ideology" my ass.

[NJmaverick]

34. Laughter can't cover up how wrong the two of you are

Even Obama knows what's going on

"One of the saddest episodes in our history was the degree to which returning vets from Vietnam were shunned, demonized and neglected by some because they served in an unpopular war. Too many of those who opposed the war in Vietnam chose to blame not only the leaders who ordered the mission, but the young men who simply answered their country’s call. Four decades later, the sting of that injustice is a wound that has never fully healed, and one that should never be repeated."

[NJmaverick]

36. Yeah even Obama thinks you are wrong

"One of the saddest episodes in our history was the degree to which returning vets from Vietnam were shunned, demonized and neglected by some because they served in an unpopular war. Too many of those who opposed the war in Vietnam chose to blame not only the leaders who ordered the mission, but the young men who simply answered their country’s call. Four decades later, the sting of that injustice is a wound that has never fully healed, and one that should never be repeated."

[BlooInBloo]

40. Well at least you get credit for successfully turning the topic from evil fucking racist cops...

To Vietnam vets. Kudos to you!

[NJmaverick]

42. You never stood a chance, when you called all cops "evil" and "racist"

you were just plain wrong and doomed from the get go.

[NJmaverick]

15. The truth doesn't have an ideology last I checked

[AllieB]

22. Please provide a link that isn't from a right-leaning website for that meme.

[NJmaverick]

33. Brack Obama is a right leaner?

here is what he had to say on the matter

"One of the saddest episodes in our history was the degree to which returning vets from Vietnam were shunned, demonized and neglected by some because they served in an unpopular war. Too many of those who opposed the war in Vietnam chose to blame not only the leaders who ordered the mission, but the young men who simply answered their country’s call. Four decades later, the sting of that injustice is a wound that has never fully healed, and one that should never be repeated."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0508/Obama_keeps_on_repudiating_boomers.html

[pnutbutr]

13. I respect

some officers for what they do but reality is that they will lie to you to get you to provide information. I don't trust police officers at all. I bolded some because I have personally witnessed bad officers do some really F'd up things and those particular ones deserve absolutely no respect.

[NJmaverick]

18. I saw some teenagers in a stolen car, NOW I DON'T TRUST TEENAGERS

I mean I respect some teens, but I personally witnessed some bad teenagers doing some really F'd up things.

[pnutbutr]

21. Clear

I thought I was very clear in what I said. The officers I have witnessed doing inappropriate things I have no respect for. Every other officer has my respect because of what they do every day. Is that wrong? Should I respect every officer no matter their actions?

[Indenturedebtor]

25. Have you ever had anything bad happen to you and had cops treat you like a criminal?

Or how about -have you ever broken a minor law and had the cops make shit up? I have... twice. And about everyone I know has seen cops break the law in applying the law, abuse their power, and generally treat people like shit. They spend more time running around enforcing the Poor Tax than helping people.

Bleh.

[NJmaverick]

38. I have seen good cops and bad ones

I have also seen idiot people get treated well and then poorly because they acted like horse's asses toward the police. I am not about to make any sort of intellectually dishonest and ethically repugnant sweeping generalization.

[Indenturedebtor]

43. Well power corrupts and they have too much power.

Many people here have been harassed and abused by cops so we don't want them anywhere near us. I personally don't know anyone that a cop has helped. I know plenty of people who've had their lives ruined or seriously impeded over stupid shit tht wasn't hurting anyone though.

[NJmaverick]

44. I once saw a tree blow over from a mild breese

should I fear every tree? Should I stay in a bomb shelter when there is any wind?

What you witness and hear is but a small slice of the real world. Your comments remind me of the blind men examining an elephant. For every bad story, there is an officer that died or was crippled protecting us. For ever story of them doing something bad, there are plenty of times they have helped a stranded motorist, or got someone in a car that was locked or found a lost child or helped a sick or injured person or helped someone who was lost or helped someone who was the victim of domestic abuse or took a dangerous person off the streets or had to tell someone their child was killed in a crash or helped keep a kid off drugs or turn to crime by their school programs or helped the victim of an auto accident and so on and so on.

[Indenturedebtor]

59. That's true, but I don't want to be around them. And you have to admit that things need to change

The police have too much power and our laws make everyone a criminal. I'm sure there are many cops who don't want to treat everyone like a criminal but feel that they have to anyway because everyone is a criminal. It's a real shame, but I don't want to be near any cops.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. Don't forget the welfare queens in Cadillacs, and the uppity gays who want "special rights."

And the America-hating terrorist lovers.

[BlooInBloo]

32. heh indeedy.

[NJmaverick]

35. Wow are you plaining on some sort of big strawman sale?

I have never seen an individual waste more time building that many in a single post

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

47. Don't worry, I'm a fast typist.

[pnutbutr]

31. vets being treated badly upon return

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/5/12/1592/76497

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

46. Yecch. If accurate, that was some slimy pandering by Obama. But hey, nobody's perfect. -nt

[midnight]

37. I like that you have a 1776 no. on your posted name.

"a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason." Thomas Paine January 9, 1776

Unfortunatey name calling of those who are not lock step into your thinking is dangerous in itself. And not a liberal mindframe at the very minimal understanding of the difinition liberal. "favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression"

[NJmaverick]

41. You know what's worse? Sweeping generalizations that are

neither honest or fair

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

55. Because they could rape you or mug you.

:shrug:

[shadowknows69]

4. Agree, this is just more getting us used to having figures of military like authority

In our faces and on our streets constantly. I don't need you to tell me if my fuckin garage door is open Go bust a fucking meth lab or something. Get some guns off the street. Save lives not property.

[rucky]

9. I thought that was vampires?

[BlooInBloo]

16. Same difference. :P

[ashling]

17. Did I miss the part in the story where the police were invited in?

:shrug:

[MrCoffee]

27. If you could cut and paste the part of the article where cops are entering homes, it would help.

Or were you just sayin?

[LanternWaste]

30. Dagnabit...

"Nobody should ever invite a cop into their house or anywhere else without a warrant."


Dagnabit... and here I was-- all set to have my ex-BIL come over this weekend to watch the Dallas game and help me fix the clutch on my g/f's car.

I've got an idea! I'll call him today and ask him to get a warrant by Sunday-- you know, so he doesn't use any Gestapo/Nazi/Fascist/ on the clutch.

[midnight]

39. BlooInBloo you sound like a wise and experienced person.

[NeedleCast]

6. Seems like a good idea

Most people are frighteningly unware when it comes to saftey.

[NJmaverick]

19. It is

but when did facts and the truth get in the way of some people's assinine rants?

[Missy Vixen]

20. They're not entering your home

They're knocking at the front door and telling you you might want to shut the garage door. The cops in our hometown have been doing this for years. The only people that bitch about it are those who haven't been robbed yet.

If the people in question don't give a shit about their own possessions or safety, fine. We (and others in the neighborhood) don't need to deal with a criminal who's trolling for a target because my stupid neighbor doesn't know enough to shut the garage door when he goes to bed at night.

Julie

[Indenturedebtor]

28. What happens if you're smoking pot when they knock on the door?

Your life is ruined forever that's what happens. They take your house and put your family out on the street. Maybe if you're lucky they taze you to death first.

Change the laws back to where 90% of citizens aren't guilty of some victimless crime and the cops can come knock on my door. Until then they can keep their facist command presence bullshit as far away from me as possible.

[Missy Vixen]

51. I don't use substances. They're not allowed on our property, either.

Nice to know that you believe all cops are corrupt and "fascist", too.

Julie

[High Plains]

56. What, no beers in your fridge, no bar in the game room?

Oh, you mean substances arbritrarily deemed illicit.

[Indenturedebtor]

60. I don't either except maybe once a year

But many people do, or their kids will experiment, or whatever. The point is that everyone is seen as a criminal these days.

[lib2DaBone]

58. Not a good idea to invite Cops in to your house.....

Because of the "Plain View Doctrine". Anything laying out in plain sight.. is reason for arrest. You know that Hanna Montana CD your kid copied from her friend..? Contraban. You know that parking ticket on your kitchen table you meant to pay 30 days ago? oops.. Lock up time.. come with me. You know those empty beer cans sitting wating to be crushed and recycled? "Sir.. have you been drinking tonight? Would you mind walking on this line for me?" You think I'm kidding?

[uncle ray]

50. it's called a "knock and talk"

a well known police tactic used to get their foot in the door for the sole reason of gathering evidence to bust you in some crime. they see a bowl on the table, seeds in the ashtray, a funny smell, whatever they can use against an otherwise law abiding citizen.

what police do is never what it appears to be on it's surface. for example, if they pull you over for a burnt out light on your car, don't be fooled, they don't give a damn about your safety, they are looking to bust you for drugs or DWI. that is their job, to think for a moment that they won't pursue ANY suspicious lead is naive.

[Missy Vixen]

53. Dear God

Do any of you even read what you write?

My husband volunteers at a local police department. He's been doing this for eleven years. I'm a former city council member in our hometown. When I held office, the police were part of my job. I have NEVER met one person affiliated with either of these entities that I would hesitate to have in my home, and we have had them over. We have a neighbor one block away that's an officer for a third city. They've consistently gone out of their way to "protect and serve", even when the police chief was in plainclothes and getting bitched out by an eleven-year-old who was skateboarding in the middle of 203 -- "my dad told me I don't have to respect you". I don't know where he gets his patience, but he walked away rather than engage the kid in question.

There are bad apples in every line of work. Unfortunately, it seems to be quite the rage to bitch about the police on DU. It's unfortunate that so many have had negative experiences. I have to wonder, though, how many of them had those negative experiences because of their own actions.

Fact: An open garage door at 3 a.m. is a gaping invitation for a criminal to either loot your garage, or God forbid, walk right into your house and take what they'd like. Fact: If you shut your goddamn garage door at night, the police would have no reason to even ask you to shut it in the first place. Your neighbors would also be spared the brunt of your irresponsibility.

Julie

[High Plains]

54. It's another corrosive consequence of the war on drugs.

880,000 arrested for pot last year, 1.8 million for all drug arrests. About 90% of those arrests were for simple possession.

Tens of millions of Americans smoke pot, including, by their own admissions, many posters here. None of those people want to see the cops at their door, period.

The hideous hypocrisy of the drug laws and the enthusiasm with which they are enforced by police makes many people disrespect the law and the people who enforce it.

Oh, and then there's the constant flow of police brutality stories.

Wonder why people don't like cops? It's not irrational; there are reasons for it.

[Indenturedebtor]

61. Yep everyone is a criminal who needs to be investigated. We're all guilty they just need proof.

Tryin to catch me ridin dirty.

[MrScorpio]

26. It's nice to see that the police there are being proactive in crime prevention

But, if these crimes are such a problem, wouldn't increased patrols in those neighborhoods help out a lot too?

How about a community watch program? The cops and residents doing joint patrols?

There are a few different things that can be done

[TCJ70]

45. Aren't they doing that while going around checking doors?

It's like a two for one deal.

[madrchsod]

29. they were "tagging" open garage doors in my little town

there were a lot of break-ins so the cops would put a notice on ones garage that the door was open and they could have been thieves. this program was discontinued after three months

bee thieves?

[High Plains]

48. "Knock and talk" is a favorite police investigative technique.

Come to your door, hope you open it, ask you some questions, peer inside your home, sniff the air...

Open the door to cops at your own peril.

Ex-cop Barry Cooper ("Never Get Busted Again") recommends going to a window and yelling: "I don't open the door for police. If you want to talk to me, have your dispatcher call me on the phone."

[wvbygod]

49. I'm waiting for a commercial version of the energy wave incapacitation device

Then we can all leave our doors and stuff wide open at night (like we used to do) and then
gather the trash that gets busted by it in the AM. That way the cops could just stop by
and pick up the trash and lock them up where they belong.

After we get enough of those healthy enough to wander through peoples garages and homes,
we can put them to work building high speed railways and other Government projects to
get this country back on its feet.

[Dogtown]

57. There hasn't been a period in history

when it was safe to leave your residence unsecured.


If you were truly that naive, be grateful.

[Throd]

52. Actually I would appreciated that.

Thousands of dollars worth of tools and a classic car in the garage...yeah, I would appreciate it.

Also, one can enter the house through the garage.

[VP505]

62. How long will it be before

the Officers start asking to come in and look around, you know, for other security risks? Then should they just happen to see something interesting, you get the knock on the door early in the morning by a group of Officers with search warrant in hand. Not a good idea to allow your local PD to be soooo helpful. IMHO.